May 10th, 1941
Rudolf Hess entered the bedroom where his wife, Ilse, was waiting for him to take afternoon tea. This event was customary, but on this day it was extraordinary.
Rudolf was a striking looking man. He had prominent eyebrows and an angular face. He was overdressed for this occasion, wearing his high airman’s boots and blue-gray breeches. He had on a light blue shirt with a dark blue tie.
Rudolf sat and took a bite of plum cake. “I received a call from Berlin, I am required to make a short detour to Augsburg on my way to headquarters.” he casually remarked.
“I’m happy to see you heeded my advice on the blue and light blue color combination. What made you finally decide to try it out?” Isle asked.
“To give you a pleasant surprise!”
Isle felt doubtful about this display of husbandly respect but she did not show it. Instead she smiled and took a sip of tea.
After Rudolf had finished his tea and cake he took Isle’s hand and kissed it gently. He rose and walked over to the door of the nursery where their son, Wolf, was sleeping after his midday meal. He stood there shroud in silence, almost like he was hesitant.
“When will you be coming back?” Ilse asked.
“I am not quite certain, perhaps tomorrow. I should certainly be home by Monday evening.”
“What? Tomorrow? Or Monday? I cannot believe it. You will not come home as soon as that!”
This outburst prompted Rudolf to go into the nursery to whisper his goodbyes to his sleeping son.
This would be the last time he would know the touch of his family and it would be the last time he would see them until December 24, 1969.
August 3rd, 1947
This is my first letter from our new quarters. They are not, in any fundamental sense, different from the old ones. In certain less important respects, as always seems to be the case after a change of abode, they are less “agreeable” but on the other hand they have “avantages”. In the former category ranks the fact that we are not allowed to send a letter, such as the one I now send, more than once in 28 days. I realized in Nuremberg that I would not be allowed to go on writing so frequently and looked upon the fact that I was able to do so as signifying some change before long. In the same 28 days we may receive not more than one letter, but at present there is no limit as to the length. Conditions: it must be written clearly in Latin characters!… My number is now the lucky seven!
There is a positive side, however: The “rooms” are newly painted and fresher and cleaner. And just imagine, I have a pillow, one with a pillow case, and a mattress covered with white linen- the first seen since I left England! Again, I possess a chairand need no longer pretend that the edge of a bed is a sofa. A drawback is that the white linen covering of the mattress means more trouble washing- and we have to do that ourselves! vvvvv.
Rudolf smiled as he drew the v’s that was a private code between him and Ilse that indicated laughter. Rudolf had just been transferred to the Spandau Prison after six years of imprisonment during the Nuremberg trials and his future fate was that of a lifetime of incarceration. This was certainly no cause to smile. Dada Vaswani once said that, ‘Peace is not external. Peace is an inner thing. It comes from our own inner environment’. Perhaps Rudolf was able to maintain this inner peace by virtue of his honor, something that he upheld despite the external circumstances.
Yesterday for the first time I was in the line-up for washing with Doenitz. I imagined myself as Gudrun by the shores of the North Sea, but she, I am sure, breathed an air with more ozone in it. How we scrubbed, soaped, rinsed and wrung out! We did our level best. But I fear that a good housewife would have cast despairing and pitying glances to heaven, to see our methods.
In fact our present profession carries with it all sorts of activities! Our education as market gardeners makes rapid progress. It is voluntary, but we all take part. Ture, this progress is very irregular because there are so many gaps in our knowledge, With some guidance from the French guard- who presumably retired as a rentier at the age of around forty and now potters about in his little plot for the benefit of Madame’s kitchen- I am already quite an expert in tomato growing. I know which shoots to nip and which not, and that when the stems of pruned shoots are stuck in the ground the moisture is retained better, so the unwanted parts convert themselves gradually into good manure…
Our removal here was quite sudden. In the very early morning at the first cockcrow we were awakened with the interesting news- just as I had told my comrades would happen, although not one of them believed me! Since we are not burdened with the sort of valuables that can be eaten by moths or corrupted by rust, it did not take us long to pack up…
Now we shall calmly await what may happen to us- as we did before. Or at least I shall do so without necessarily going to the extreme of the fakir who perceives his mission and happiness to consist
in holding one arm upright day and night. In a mental and spiritual sense, I sometimes feel rather like that myself, but only sometimes… from that state I am far removed vvvvvvv.
Rudolf set down his pen having finished his letter to Ilse. Once again he was alone with his thoughts. Where would they drift to this time? His faithful flight, his family, fighting Marxists at the beer hall meetings, getting shot on the front lines during WW1…
August 31, 1946
Rudolf Hess sat in the dock with his former comrades. The dock consisted of two rows of benches. Everyone was wearing headphones. Everyone save Rudolf that is, who pointedly disregarded his. Impassive guards in bright white helmets surrounded them on three sides. The grand hall in which the proceedings took place was lavishly paneled in dark wood. The hooded overhead lights contrasted the traditional decor and cast a harsh light.
It was time for Rudolf to make his closing statement. Although he had no regard for the validity of the International Military Tribunal in Nuremberg, his final speech was the longest. He had been biding his time and had much to say.
“I call on the Defendant Rudolf Hess.” The President of the tribunal, Lord Justice Lawrence, announced.
Rudolf responded, “First of all, I should like to make a request to the High Tribunal that I remain seated because of the state of my health.”
“Certiantly.”
Rudolf took a deep breath and began.
“Some of my comrades here can confirm the fact that at the beginning of the proceedings, I predicted the following:
1. That witnesses would appear who, under oath, would make untrue statements while, at the same time, these witnesses could create an absolutely reliable impression and enjoy the best possible reputation.
2. That it was to be reckoned with that the Court would receive affidavits containing untrue statements.
3. That the defendants would be astonished and surprised at some German witnesses.w
4. That some of the defendants would act rather strangely; they would make shameless utterances about the Führer; they would incriminate their own people; they would partially incriminate each other, and falsely at that. Perhaps they would even incriminate themselves and also wrongly.
All of these predictions have come true and as far as the witnesses and affidavits are concerned, in dozens of cases, cases in which the unequivocal oath of the defendants stand in opposition to the sworn statements of the former…”
Rudolf went on making the defense for himself that the tribunal did not allow him during the trial. In fact, calling these proceedings a tribunal or trial was a gross misuse of language. As Soviet Judge, Ion Nikitchenko, so candidly put it, ’We are dealing here with the chief war criminals who have already been convicted and whose conviction has been already announced by both the Moscow and Crimea [Yalta] declarations by the heads of the [Allied] governments…. The whole idea is to secure quick and just punishment for the crime.’ The judges’ job was to decide the appropriate punishment. The prosecutors were there to assist the judges. The defense of the condemned could not turn their already assumed guilt into innocence.
“I should also like to say that I am not a church-goer: I have no spiritual relationship with the Church, but I am a deeply religious person. I am convinced that my belief in God is stronger than that of most people. I ask the High Tribunal to give all the more weight to everything which I declare under oath, especially calling God as my witness.
In the spring of 1942-”
The President interrupted Rudolf. “I must draw the attention of the Defendant Hess to the fact that he has already spoken for 20 minutes and the Tribunal has indicated to the defendants that it cannot allow them to continue to make statements of great length at this stage of the proceedings. We have to hear all the defendants. The Tribunal therefore hopes that the Defendant Hess will conclude his speech.”
“Mr. President, may I point out that I was taking into account the fact that I am the only defendant who, up to now, has not been able to make a statement here. For what I have to say here I could only have said as a witness if the proper questions had been put to me. But as I have already stated-” Rudolf protested.
“I do not propose to argue with the defendants. The Tribunal has made its order that the defendants shall only make short statements. The Defendant Hess had full opportunity to go into the witness box and give his evidence upon oath. He chose not to do so. He is now making a statement and he will be treated like the other defendants and will be confined to a short statement.”
Rudolf was unfazed. “Therefore, Mr. President, I shall forgo making the statements which I had wanted to make in connection with the things I have just said. I ask you to listen to just a few more concluding words which are of a more general nature and have nothing to do with the things I have just stated-
August 3rd, 1947
Rudolf’s recounting of the Nuremberg trials was interrupted by a guard.
“Number 7, time for Dinner.”
“Ah yes, we must adhere to the schedule.” Rudolf mumbled.
August 10th, 1930
Rudolf Hess paced around the small airplane that he had purchased with a 12,000 reichsmark loan. The plane was designed by Wilhelm Messerschmitt who would go on to design the Bf 109 which was to become the most produced fighter aircraft in history.
Rudolf looked under the wings to admire the paint job. A black swastika and the name, Völkischer Beobachter, looked back at him. Völkischer Beobachter, which translates to National Observer, was the name of the newspaper for the Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei, or, National Socialist Party.
It was time to fly.
With engines roaring Rudolf made for the Exhibition Park in Munich. There just happened to be a a meeting of political rivals being held there that day.
Rudolf circled low over the park for two hours making it impossible for the leftists to hear the speech of the visiting Reichstag deputy or to sing their fraternal songs.
Three weeks later a police statement was released.
POLICE STATEMENT Munich, 23 September 1930
Summonsed to appear, the private secretary of Adolf Hitler, Walter Richard Rudolf Hess born April 26, 1894; married; Bavarian national; parents, Fritz and Klara nee Münch, businessman and -woman of Alexandria; resident in Munich, Löfftz Strasse 3, III, deposes as follows:
‘I am a member of the National Socialist German Workers Party and private secretary to Adolf Hitler. The M-23 airplane D.1920 with the slogan Völkischer Beobachter is my private property… I am paid by the newspaper for advertising flights … I was aware before take-off that a Constitution Festival was being held by the Reichsbanner Black-Red-Gold in the Exhibition Park… I had no reason not to fly over the ceremony as it is the newspaper’s intent to advertise subscriptions not only to its political friends but also to those more remote, even to its opponents… I might point out that I carry out advertising flights over friendly political demonstrations too… I have had a previous conviction for aiding and abetting high treason… I have a wife to support.
June 4th, 1947
My very dearest love.
I have just learned of your arrest. At once I asked Dr. Seidl to take over your case and to come to see you himself.
Your arrest is only what I have long expected; and I was fully prepared for it. In fact I am prepared for anything and nothing can surprise me. Nevertheless my feelings when I heard of this were such that I need not and indeed will not put down in writing. But I should like to tell you about my conception of personal honor, as held for many years: the Honor of an individual cannot be injured, or even touched, by any acts or expressions on the part of another. He who attempts this does an injury to his own honor. Honor can suffer solely as a result of dishonorable conduct on the part of the individual himself. Accordingly, many things that might well get on the nerves of others pass me by.
Since you now find yourself in a situation in which your own acts and all attempts to steer your own course must be confined within very narrow limits, I will again remind you of an idea of which I have often spoken: there are events which take their course upon a level where we cannot exert any influence, or at times when we must be left out because, not being able to anticipate then, we are always too late…
Rudolf closed his eyes. He pictured his family as he saw them last. Young Wolf, or Buz as he and Isle called him, was only three years old. Rudolf recalled the time when he had to rescue the poor boy from the garden pond. He had a picture of Ilse and Buz playing with a toy top with him on the day of the flight. He wished that he could look at it now.
-Ilse Hess to Rudolf Hess
Present address: The Labour and Internment Camp at Goggingen, nr. Augsburg, Barracks 5, Room 5
June 5h, 1947
When I was in the prison at Sonthofen the loneliness proved difficult; but now, taking into account my liking to be alone which I have always had with me from birth and in an intensified form during the last few years—my greatest trouble is never being able to be alone, but having the enforced company of sixteen fellow-victims. However, one gets used to everything, as we all know. To-day the radio was blaring, the whole room hummed with talk, and the doors banged, etc, etc. But I slept!
Further, comradeship outweighs a hundred times the unfavourable aspects of the present situation; and in this respect as far as one can judge after a few days, I have good luck, since I seem to have been placed in the most friendly room that has been known here for a long time— but a new influx is announced vvvvvv. The mixture is wonderful. We are commanded by the oldest inhabitant, quite democratically as she is also the oldest in years. She is small and delicately made with a deep masculine voice, comes from the world of Munich Bohemianism and smokes like a chimney. There are a few women of about my own age; and then eight boisterous lasses, all of whom have been ‘inside’ for two and a quarter years—crazy but true!—and in spite of that have not lost their humour or good behaviour. An impudent died-in-the-wool Berlin creature, whose tricks and pranks keep us all going; a little girl from Dessau, as pretty as a picture—these stand out so far to my eyes, but I truly believe that every branch of what was once our German fatherland is represented.
My special favourite is a sixty-three-year-old Munich woman, full of wit and worldly wisdom; she even knows Harlaching and once polished your desk in the Brown House! I try to stop her doing all sorts of things for me. It would never do to let her, because people would say, “Look at that snooty Frau Hess letting herself be waited on!”—the last thing I want! True—my room would not talk like that, but there is not the same comradeship throughout, Oh! Women! Maybe I will have to fore- stall any accusation of ‘‘snootiness” by taking over the “post” of closet-cleaner, if no one else comes forward, which hasn’t happened yet. . . .
I can’t yet bear to think of our son, For, ever since my case first came before the Sonthofen tribunal, I have been firmly convinced that even if I had been an angel from above as white as snow instead of one of the earliest Party members, I would still be compelled to spend a good while here; if not for one reason, then for another, both before and after the verdict. So the thought of the little chap gives me no small anxiety. The good boy- he was so plucky when I was arrested! Next week I hope he will be able to come and see me with Auntie Inge. You always rejected the idea of a visit from us. It is, at bottom, nothing but a devilish form of torture, even though conditions for receiving visitors here are not unacceptable.
September 30th, 1966
Spandau was a pseudo-medieval, red-brick fortress built in 1876 to hold 600 prisoners. Considerable staff was required. Each of the four Allied powers had to provide an officer and 37 soldiers during their respective shifts, as well as a director and team of warders throughout the entire year. The permanent maintenance staff of 22 included cooks, waitresses and cleaners.
Soon Spandau would hold but one prisoner, Rudolf Hess.
Albert Speer, Hitler’s Armaments Minister, and Baldur von Schirach, former leader of the Hitler Youth, were the last two to be released. Their 20 year sentence would be up at midnight and they would be taken away by their families. They were given the clothes they were wearing when they were arrested in 1945.
“Still fits, these old things still fit.” Albert said. He was in good spirits, but underneath it did he feel a pang of guilt? Unlike Rudolf, Albert had apologized for the crimes of the regiment and accepted his guilt at the Nuremberg trials, even for those things that he was not aware of. Albert went along with the Allies’ accusations of Hitler’s Germany. Was this the reason that Speer was leaving and Rudolf had to remain?
“Yes, but mine is a little tighter than I remember.” Baldur joked.
During Baldur’s closing statement he passionately defended the Hitler Youth Program and the children that were its members denying that he had ‘corrupted millions of German children so that they became what they really are today, the blind instruments of that policy of murder and domination which these men have carried out’. He, however, did not defend Hitler as Rudolf had, and conceded to the crimes of his regime although he claimed to have not known about the alleged extermination camps. Within a matter of hours he would also be a free man.
“Wife coming to get you?” Baldur asked.
“Yeah.” Albert answered, falling to an awkward silence. Baldur’s wife had divorced him early on in his sentence.
“No need to pussyfoot around. My son, Robert, hasn’t disowned me yet.”
As they waited for the clock to strike twelve and made conversation they did not talk of Rudolf. True that Rudolf had shown strong nerves as Albert and Baldur had been preparing to leave the last few days. Rudolf had asked for a sleeping pill earlier and was in a deep slumber as Albert and Baldur waited out their final hours until freedom. Neither knew what Rudolf felt exactly, but anyone could see that this must have been hard for him.
March 31, 1987
Wolf Rüdiger Hess, Rudolf’s son, sat in the visitors room and waited for his father. Wolf was not ever allowed to hug his father or touch him in any way. There were always guards present from each power, America, Britain, France and the Soviet Union.
Rudolf Hess finally entered the room. He was supported by a cane on one side and a guard on the other. He could not sit down without assistance. He had edema of the legs which required his feet to be propped up, an action needed help accomplishing. On top of all that his eyesight was failing him.
“Hello Buz. I have an interesting piece of news for you. Please, put it down in writing.” Rudolf said in the way of greeting. In his deep set eyes there was a light of intelligence that age had not put out.
Wolf was prepared for such a thing. “Yes dad, and nice to see you too.”
the small talk was lost on Rudolf. He continued with the news, “I have sent new applications for release with the heads of state for all of the four powers. I have appealed especially to the Soviet head of state to support my request with the other three custodial powers.”
“Did I get that right?” Wolf asked.
Rudolf nodded. Wolf could see the hope in his father’s eyes. He felt the same hope.
Wolf had another appointment in Berlin that afternoon. Spurred by Soviet policy showing signs of rapprochement and détente, Wolf had sent another letter to the Soviets earlier that year and he had received a reply for the first time in 20 years. He was to meet with Soviet representatives in their embassy in East Berlin. He was certain that the Soviet officials knew he was seeing his father that day when the scheduled the meeting.
“I think the tides are turning, I really do.” Wolf smiled.
* * *
After the visit with his father Wolf drove directly to the Soviet embassy. Before he entered the building he took a moment to drink in the aura of the building. It was a stark contrast to the aging Spandau prison. A white brick building, combining both Russian and Soviet architecture. The entrance was flanked by a black iron fence and the grounds were well kept.
Embassy Counselor Grinin nodded at Wolf as he entered his office.
“Sitzen dich.”
“Danke.”
“Mr. Hess, it’s good to meet with you. I hope your father is well.”
“As well as he can be.”
“Of course. As I’m sure you’re a busy man, let’s get down to the business at hand. First let me explain that it is not the Soviet embassy in Bonn, but rather the embassy here in East Berlin that is responsible for all Soviet rights and responsibilities in West Berlin. And one of those responsibilities is dealing with the unpleasant legacy of Spandau. As you can imagine anyone who had inherited a legacy such as the “Allied Military Prison” on German soil, as the Soviet Union had at the of the war, should certainly want to get rid of it.”
“Yes, that does make sense.”
“Now Mr. Hess, I don’t want to make any promises. There are conflicting views in Moscow on how to deal with the ‘Hess Case’. However, Secretary General Gorbachev, who has sympathy for your father’s situation, seems to be gaining the upper hand.”
“That’s good to hear. Good to hear indeed.”
The remainder of the meeting took its course and Wolf felt even more positive about the future as he made his return trip homw.
April 13th, 1987
After a busy day Wolf Hess had retreated to his favorite armchair to read the latest copy of Der Spiegel. He thumbed through the pages until he reached the article of interest.
He stopped when he saw the title, “Will Gorbachev Release Hess?”.
He read on.
Kremlin chief Mikhail Gorbachev is considering releasing former Hitler deputy Rudolf Hess, 92, from the Berlin-Spandau prison for the last days of his life. This is according to Moscow diplomatic circles. So far, the Soviet Union had been the only one of the four former Allies to refuse to agree to a pardon for the top Nazi functionary, who was sentenced to life imprisonment in the Nuremberg trials. The international appeals for Hess’s release had “nothing to do with humanity,” said Soviet Attorney General Rekunkov last September. Gorbachev is said to have come to the conclusion that an act of clemency in the Hess case would be accepted worldwide as a gesture of humanity and should also be explained to the Soviet population. The General Secretary of the CPSU would thus be following a request from Federal President Richard von Weizsäcker, who for reasons of “mercy” was the first German head of state to publicly advocate the release of the war criminal. Weizsäcker is coming to Moscow for a state visit in mid-May. Rudolf Hess was treated for pneumonia in the British military hospital in March.
Wolf mused on what he just read. He knew that for many years the British, American and French governments had said that they were ready to agree to Hess’ release and the Soviet veto was all that prevented it. Gorbachev’s new initiative threatened to call the British and American bluff. He wondered how it would all pan out.
Wolf reached for the phone to call his father, but stopped short. That was not something that could so casually be done.
Instead he phoned his mother.
May 10th, 1941
The sun was setting on the North Sea and Rudolf Hess had the fortune of viewing the vivid sunset from high above in his Messerschmitt 110 fighter-bomber. The sky was crystal clear and the altocumulus clouds below him were like ice floating on the sea. He could not give his attention to muse on the scene, however, as he was piloting an aircraft by himself, headed for Scotland on a self-imposed peacekeeping mission.
Rudolf had a real worry about the crystal clear sky. The weather report had called for a dense carpet of clouds where he could hide and take shelter. As beautiful as the vista was, it left him totally exposed. He briefly considered turning back, but decided against it. He only had this one chance.
As Ruudolf resolved to stick it out no matter what he noticed a veil of mist hanging over England. The surface of the mist shone so that nothing on the surface could be seen from above.
Rudolf dove, full throttle, towards the ground and the cover of the haze. This action saved him from a Spitfire that had been in pursuit of him. The dazzling lights of the sunset had prevented him from looking back and detecting the enemy plane. He could have been easily shot down if he had stayed where he was.
* * *
“There is nothing more splendid than a stroll under the evening colors of the sky. But Jeffery, it is getting dark so quickly. We should hurry back to the village. It’s getting cold too.”
“Oh Hazel, there is nothing more splendid than the evening colors in your eyes. But could it be that the stars twinkling in them should be just as sweet. I’d like to see. Come closer and I will keep you warm my dear.”
“Oh, Jeffery.”
“Oh, Hazel.”
“Jeffery, what’s that noise?”
The mystery noise grew louder and suddenly a low flying plane streaked over their heads.
“My love!” Jeffery cried as he tackled Hazel to the ground.
***
Back in the Messerschmitt Rudolf was having the time of his life. Roaring along at 465 miles per hour, barely clearing the houses. The English airmen called this ‘hedge-hopping’ and at home this type of flying was strictly forbidden.
Rudolf was not flying this way just for fun. He had to be careful not to cruise above 16 feet in order to remain invisible to his presurer. Still, he was enjoying every minute.
The Cheviot, an extinct volcano located in the extreme north of England, could be seen on the horizon. It was the highest point of the Cheviot hills and Rudolf’s guiding point.
In the months spent in preparation for this faithful flight Rudolf spent sleepless nights studying a map pinned to the wall next to his bed and had carefully memorized some half dozen courses. The map had been left behind. Rudolf had taken the precaution of labeling it Ostsee instead of Nordsee in the case that his intuitive wife stumbled upon it. This would lead Ilse to believe that he was flying a southern course to France.
As Rudolf was blazing through the sky, invoking the map stored in his memory, a series of mountains emerged from the mist before the Cheviot. He was not sure which was the correct one so he relied on divine inspiration and set course for the one that looked the likeliest.
Rudolf breathed a sigh of relief when he recognized a chain of little dots. Holy Island and the Farne Islands. These were the navigational points to which the various courses he had plotted out lead to. He headed towards the Cheviot instead of the islands as there was a flock of ships between the islands and the mainland. Three destroyers idled peacefully in the ocean. What a treat it would have been for them to have shot down Rudolf’s Messerschmitt.
Rudolf had been maintaining his extremely low altitude and when he reached the Cheviot he climbed up the slope. Never had he ascended a mountain so rapidly. He then slid down the other side and continued his flight on level ground, jauntily skimming over housetops and trees.
At his next point of orientation, a little dam in a narrow range of hills, the course bent left. At 10:40pm he found himself over Dungavel, the county seat of the Duke of Hamilton. The Duke, a member of the Anglo-German Fellowship Association, was soon to be Hess’s host. Or at least that was what Hess had hoped for. Instead his night would go much differently than planned.
Rudolf flew on for a few minutes to the coast. The sea below him was as still as a mirror and was illuminated by the rising moon. A peaceful prelude to the daring act that Rudolf was about to undertake. His first parachute jump.
Once Rudolf had arrived at the proper spot he brought up the plane to 6500 feet. After he was at a safe altitude to jump he cut the engines and fixed the propeller so that he would not be hacked to bits when he jumped.
Issues arose. The first engine did not stop after the ignition was turned off, it went on spinning and humming, feeding off of red hot cylinders.
When the engine finally did die Rudolf fastened everything up and opened the cabin roof. He was greeted by unimaginable air pressure that pinned him down. Rudolf, who had thought of everything, did not actually think of everything. He never asked about how to jump. He thought it was all too simple.
“Think, Rudolf, think.” He mumbled to himself. “Ah yes!”
Unfortunately Rudolf did not think to use the landing gear to slow the plane, instead he remembered how General Ritter von Greim had once mentioned how he had to turn the aircraft on its back and allow oneself to fall out.
Rudolf thus used his years of flying experience to successfully turn the plane over. Alas, the centrifugal force held him inside. That was all for the best for had he slid down even a little the pressure would have broken his neck.
Blood started to drain from Rudolf’s head and he began to see stars.
“I am only just above the ground and flying straight down,” Rudolf thought, “Soon the crash must come! Is this the end?”
Rudolf blacked out. He was plunging towards the earth, upside down.
He quickly snapped back to consciousness with full clarity. He looked at the speed gauge and saw that it read zero. He flung himself away from the machine and watched it drop like a stone.
Rudolf pulled the ripcord on his parachute. He was thankful to be alive. While he was unconscious he did what he should have done. He had brought the plane out of his semi-looping curve to finish almost perpendicular on its tail. After the power of the swing had spent the craft stood motionless before hurling towards the earth. This movement had also put Rudolf in a position for the blood to flow back into his head. Had he been out a second longer the results would have been fatal.
Rudolf swayed about in the air, making his way to the ground. The misty night was scarcely illuminated by the full moon.
The sudden checking of speed when Rudolf reached the ground caused another black out from which his recovery came gradually instead of suddenly. When he did awaken he momentarily did not know where he was or what he was doing. It gradually became clear that he had succeeded in reaching Scotland. Soon he would be making peace talks with the heads of the enemy state.
Or that’s what he thought.
“Are you British or German?” A man’s voice asked.
“Huh?” Rudolf was still dazed from the blackout.
“Where you from, lad?” The man asked. His name was David McLean. It was his farmhouse that he had managed to land. Rudolf’s poor aircraft was burning in one of David’s fields.
“I’m German. Unarmed.” Rudolf struggled to free himself from his parachute. His ankle was badly injured, probably from knocking it against the parachute gear.
David graciously assisted Rudolf and helped him into his humble abode. He then led Rudolf to a deep leather armchair in the parlor.
“Here you go, right by the fire.” The man said and threw an extra log on it.
“Thank you, sir.”
“I’ll go put the kettle on.” Was David’s response.
When David came back Rudolf gratefully accepted his cup of tea. After a few sips in silence he took out the picture of Wolf and Ilse with the spinning top and showed it to David, “My Son.”
David nodded.
“I saw him this afternoon, but I do not know when I’ll see him again.”
It wasn’t long before a knock on the door interrupted tea time.
***
Rudolf presently found himself at the mercy of a boozy Home Guard company commander named Mr. Clarke. Mr. Clarke had been celebrating his Friday night in the Scottish style. He, constable Robert Williamson, and a troop of soldiers had arrived at David’s cottage to take the mysterious German pilot away.
“I am Hauptmann Alfred Horn. I have an urgent message for the Duke of Hamilton. Please take me to him at once”
“Brrrrph.” Mr. Clarke had his Webley revolver poking into the small of Rudolf’s back , his finger frightfully close to the trigger. “Get in the car, Mr. Horn.”
Rudolf was driven down bumpy country roads to a house that was the headquarters of the 3rd Battalion of the Home Guard. All the while Mr. Clarke kept his revolver on Rudolf and his finger on the trigger. Whatever guardian had intervened in Rudolf’s brush of death during the jump surely was preventing the drunk Mr. Clarke from engaging the trigger.
When the troupe had reached their destination Rudolf, who must have looked ragged after a five hour flight and two black outs, was given a bottle of milk by a man that had clearly meant to drink the milk himself.
After Rudolf was shown to his accommodations for the night, a jail cell, he was certain he was under arrest.
Little did he know for how long.
May 11th, 1948
After a night of being argued over and moved around Rudolf Hess found himself waking up in a side room of the detention ward in a little hospital in Maryhill Barracks, Glasgow.
At 10 am, only 12 hours since Rudolf had begun his adventure, The Duke of Hamilton and his Intelligence officer, Lieutenant Benson, were shown into his room.
“I should like to speak to you alone.” Rudolf said, addressing the Duke while eying Benson.
“You can leave, Lieutenant.”
After Benson was gone Rudolf said, “I saw you at the Olympic Games in Berlin. You lunched with us. I don’t know if you recognize me, but I am Rudolf Hess! I have flown here on a mission of humanity. My friend Albrecht Haushofer told me that you were an Englishman who would probably understand our point of view. The fact that I as a Reichsminister have come to your country in person is proof of my sincerity and Germany’s willingness for peace. I would like you to gather together the leading members of your party to talk things over with them.”
“There is now only one party in this country.” The Duke replied.
This did not deter Rudolf, “I can tell you what Hitler’s peace terms will be! Firstly, he will insist on an arrangement whereby our two countries will never go to war again. This can be arranged if Britain simply abandons her traditional opposition to the strongest power on the Continent.”
“Even if we were able to make peace now we should be at war again in two years. Hitler chose war at a time when Britain was anxious for peace. There is not much hope of agreement now.”
“I want you to ask His Majesty to give me his word to allow me to return to Germany. I came here unarmed and of my own free will.”
“I think we should meet again, with an interpreter.” The Duke suggested.
“That is a good idea. I ask you two things. Please conceal my identity from the press and send a telegram to my aunt in Zünich stating that “Alfred Horn” is in good health.”
“I will do my best.”
***
It had long been tradition for an enemy state to allow safe passage home for a parliamentary agent conveying terms of truce to an honorable foe. Hitler himself had adhered to this tradition that these couriers be permitted to return home unmolested, regardless of the outcome of their negotiations.
It was true that Rudolf had no special letter of authority. However, Neveille Chamberlain needed no such letter when he came to Berchtesgaden, Godesberg and Munich on behalf of his head of state to avert war in 1938.
Rudolf was not allowed to return to Germany. Instead he was imprisoned in England until he was transferred to American custody for the Nuremberg trials.
Perhaps Britain was not an honorable foe as Hess had believed.
August 17, 1987
Wolf Hess set down the phone in the receiver. The American director of the Spandau Prison, Mr. Darold W. Keane had given him the official notice of his fathers passing.
“I am authorized to inform you that your father expired today at 4:10 p.m. I am not authorized to give you any further details.” Was all that Darold could tell Wolf.
After sitting there a moment, waiting for his head to stop spinning and his thoughts to collect, Wolf picked up the phone again to arrange a flight to Berlin.
August 18, 1987
Wolf Hess stared out the airplane’s window. The sun was rising in a show of color but Wolf wasn’t in a mood to appreciate the beauty of it. Next to him was Dr. Alfred Seidl, Rudolf Hess’s attorney.
Alfred had only been permitted to see his client six times in the last 40 years. He was also subjected to the strict censorship regulations. Before each visit it was made clear to him that he was not allowed to discuss the trial, the reasons for his imprisonment or the efforts that were being made to secure his release.
When Albert and Wolf reached Spandau prison they were met with a large crowd that had gathered out front. They shoved their way through a police blockade.
“We have business here.” Wolf told one of the officers. “I’m Wolf Hess and this is Dr. Alfred Seidl, my father’s attorney.”
“I’ll need to see your identification.” The officer responded with little emotion.
After that was sorted they stopped at an iron gate and Wolf rang the bell. He asked to see Darold Keane.
After a while Darold appeared. “Oh, hello Mr. Hess, Dr Seidl.” In his nervousness he gave no time for his visitors to respond, “It’s good that you could make it so quickly. I’m afraid you can’t come into the prison complex and I can’t tell you anything further. There is a report being made. It will be ready at 4.”
Wolf was annoyed but not surprised at this treatment. “Here is the address and phone number of our hotel. We will await your call.”
Darold accepted the information. “Very good, I will call you later.”
Without further ado Darold left Wolf and Alfred standing at the gate.
***
It was 5:30 before the phone rang.
Wolf answered it. “Hello” This is Mr. Hess.”
“Yes, hello.” Darold replied. “I will now read to you the report that we will release immediately afterwards to the press. It reads:
“Initial examination indicated that Rudolf Hess attempted to take his own life. In the afternoon of August 17, 1987, under the customary supervision of a prison guard, Hess went to a summerhouse in the prison garden, where he always used to sit. When the guard looked into the summerhouse a few minutes later, he discovered Hess with an electric cord around his neck. Attempts were made at resuscitation and Hess was taken to the British Military Hospital. After further attempts to revive Hess, he was declared dead at 4:10 p.m. The question of whether this suicide attempt was the cause of his death is the object of an investigation, including a thorough autopsy, which is still in progress.”
That is all I can tell you. Good day.”
Without further ado Darold hung up.
Wolf had gone pale. He turned to Alfred.
“Keane said it was suicide. That he hung himself- with an electric cord.”
Alfred was visibly shocked. “Suicide? But you told me that your father could barely walk the last time you saw him. This is absurd.”
“Yeah…” Thoughts were racing through Wolf’s head. His father was a frail 93-year-old man with no strength left in his hands. He could just barely drag himself from his cell into the garden. How was he supposed to have killed himself with an electrical cord? Did he do it from a hook or a window latch? Or did he throttle himself? Impossible. And why would he do such a thing with the possibility of release on the horizon? This claim of suicide was quite unbelieveable.
September 17, 1987
A month later an official statement was published.
The Four Powers are now in a position to make the final statement on the death of Rudolf Hess.
Investigations have confirmed that on August 17 Rudolf Hess hanged himself from a window latch in a small summerhouse in the prison garden, using an electric extension cord which had for some time been kept in the summerhouse for use in connection with a reading lamp. Attempts were made to revive him and he was then rushed to the British Military Hospital where, after further unsuccessful attempts to revive him, he was pronounced dead at 4:10 p.m.
A note addressed to Hess’ family was found in his pocket. This note was written on the reverse side of a letter from his daughter-in-law dated July 20, 1987. It began with the words “Please would the governors send this home. Written a few minutes before my death.” The senior document examiner from the laboratory of the British government chemist, Mr. Beard, has examined this note, and concluded that he can see no reason to doubt that it was written by Rudolf Hess.
A full autopsy was performed on Hess’ body on August 19 in the British Military Hospital by Dr. Malcolm Cameron. The autopsy was conducted in the presence of medical representatives of the four powers. The report noted a linear mark on the left side of the neck consistent with a ligature. Dr. Cameron stated that in his opinion death resulted from asphyxia, caused by compression of the neck due to suspension.
The investigations confirmed that the routine followed by staff on the day of Hess’ suicide was consistent with normal practice. Hess had tried to cut his wrists with a table knife in 1977. Immediately after this incident, warders were placed in his room and he was watched 24 hours a day. This was discontinued after several months as impracticable, unnecessary and an inappropriate invasion of Hess’ privacy.
And that was that. The victor’s story was the story of truth as it always has been and always will be(?).
August 31, 1946
In the spring of 1942-”
The President interrupted Rudolf. “I must draw the attention of the Defendant Hess to the fact that he has already spoken for 20 minutes and the Tribunal has indicated to the defendants that it cannot allow them to continue to make statements of great length at this stage of the proceedings. We have to hear all the defendants. The Tribunal therefore hopes that the Defendant Hess will conclude his speech.”
Rudolf protested, “Mr. President, may I point out that I was taking into account the fact that I am the only defendant who, up to now, has not been able to make a statement here. For what I have to say here I could only have said as a witness if the proper questions had been put to me. But as I have already stated-”
“I do not propose to argue with the defendants. The Tribunal has made its order that the defendants shall only make short statements. The Defendant Hess had full opportunity to go into the witness box and give his evidence upon oath. He chose not to do so. He is now making a statement and he will be treated like the other defendants and will be confined to a short statement.”
Unfazed, Rudolf continued, “Therefore, Mr. President, I shall forgo making the statements which I had wanted to make in connection with the things I have just said. I ask you to listen to just a few more concluding words which are of a more general nature and have nothing to do with the things I have just stated.
The statements which my council made in my name before the High Tribunal I permitted to be made for the sake of the future judgment of my people and of history. That is the only thing which matters to me. I do not defend myself against accusers to whom I deny the right to bring charges against me and my fellow-countrymen. I will not discuss accusations which concern things which are purely German matters and therefore of no concern to foreigners. I raise no protest against statements which are aimed at attacking my honor, the honor of the German people. I consider such slanderous attacks by the enemy as a proof of honor.
I was permitted to work for many years of my life under the greatest son whom my people has brought forth in its thousand-year history. Even if I could, I would not want to erase this period of time from my existence. I am happy to know that I have done my duty as a German, as a National Socialist, as a loyal follower of my Führer. I do not regret anything.
If I were to begin all over again, I would act just as I have acted, even if I knew that in the end I should meet a fiery death at the stake. No matter what human beings may do, I shall some day stand before the judgment seat of the Eternal. I shall answer to Him and I know He will judge me innocent.”